Binding device



Dec. 2 7, 1938* I c. E. EMMER 2,141,524

BINDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1937 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BINDING DEVICE I Charles Edward Emmer, Chicago, 111., assignor to Cercla, Inc., Chicago, Ill.,

linois a corporation of II- Application August 2, 1937, Serial No. 156,852

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to binding devices for binding perforated sheets and the like.

The invention relates particularly to that type of binding devices which, when in a service condition, comprise a longitudinally extending back or supporting portion and opposed semicirc ar ,arms extending from the opposite sides of the back to form closed loops for holding together loose leaves or the leaves of pamphlets which are .perforated to receive the arms.

The binding devices of my invention are preferably of comparatively non-elastic sheet metal and-the .back or supporting portion from which the semicircular arms extend is deflected to form a longitudinally extending channel or loop which, before application of the binding device to loose leaves or pamphlets, is open or distended to space apart the free ends of the arms for reception simpletool the binding .devices could be closed to'their service condition. The above referred to and other features of th invention have been incorporated in the structure shown on the'drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 shows how the blanks for the devices are stamped from a continuous band of sheet metal;

Figure 2 is' an end view of a blank; Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure after side portions of the arms have been deflected over for reinforcement and smooth edges and the back has been deflected;

Figure 4 is an end view of the structure of Figure 3, the dotted line showing how the arms are deflected into semicircular form;

Figure 5 shows the commercial form of the device with the semicircular arms and the back loop edges separated and showing the application 7 l of a stack of leaves into the device between the arm ends ready for receiving the armends in their perforations;

.Figure 6 shows the binding device closed and in service condition to hold the stack of leaves; Figure '7 is a rear view to reduced scale of the binding device in service condition and position; Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing how a tongue on one of the arms enters betweenthe folded over portion of the other arm for locking the arm ends together;

Figure 9 is a section on plane I X-IX Figure 8. Figure 10 shows a device in which the indentation or channeling of the back portion of the 5 device is of V-shaped cross-section; and

Figure 11 shows the device of Figure 10 in its closed or service condition. y

As shown by Figure 1, a band of suitable sheet metal is run thr'ough suitable dies to. be cut to 10 form the blanks A for the binding devices. Each blank comprises a flat supporting or back part I from whose longitudinal edges extend opposed arms 2 and .3, the blanks shown having four sets of arms. In cutting the blanks, side portions 4 15 are left which are bent along the dotted line shown on Figure 1 and deflected toward the arm bodies to reinforce the arms along their sides and to provide smooth side edges therefor as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This deflection of the portions 4 is readily accomplished by simple dies through which the sheet metal band passes. As the band passes through the dies, the support ing or back portion I is deflected toform a longitudinally extending channel, trough or loop 5.

Figures 3 to 6 show this back deflection as of substantially semicircular cross-section.- The blanks or embryo binding devices are still part of a continuous strip after the sheet metal band has been passed through the various dies, and the arms extend out straight. The strip is now out to form the individual binding devices, the cutting being through the back portion I and along the dotted lines indicated on Figure 1.

The arms 2 and 3 are now bent around to semicircular form and with the back deflection or loop 5 between the arms as shown in Figure 5.

The arms 2 are shown as provided 'at their ends with looking extensions or tongues 6 which, when the 'device is brought to its final or binding 40 condition, enter between the ends of the deflected over portion 4 of the arms 3 to secure the arm ends together and to form a smdoth joint.

When the arms 2 and 3 are bent to semicircular form, the ends of the tongues on the arms 2 and the ends of the arms 3 are brought together onlyfar enough to leave a gap I of a width corresponding to the maximum thickness of the stack of leaves to be bound by the binding device, and the edges at the open side of the loop 5 are separated by the same distance as between the ends of the arms. By simple die members 8 and 9 which have semicircular recesses for receiving the semicircular arms and which move in parallelism toward each other, the arms are bodily brought together to form circular binding loops or rings, the ends of the arms passing through the perforations ll) of the sheets to be bound and the loopi. in the back I being closed as shown in Figure 6.

When the binding device is closed to its binding condition, the tongues 6 on the arms 2 enter between the bodies of the arms 3 and the deflected over portions 4 on said arm for locking the arms together against separation. In order that the ends of the arm .bodies mayv register, the tongues 6 may be deflected inwardly the thickness of the sheet metal. as shown in Figure 9, such deflection taking place when the blanks for the devices are formed.

The tongues will bridge any gap between the arm body ends and thus prevent escape of any ofthe leaves of the bound pack.

Where the deflections 5 in the back I is of semi-circular or arcuate cross-section before the binding device is closed, passageway 5 will remain between the deflection walls after the devicehas been closed and the outer edges of the deflection brought together, as shown in Figure 6. Through the passageway 5', a rod (not shown) may be extended for supporting the bound leaf pack or by which the bound structure may be secured in a supporting cover structure.

Figures 10 and 11 show a modified form in which the deflection II in the body of the blank is of angular or V-shaped cross-section so that when the device is closed the side walls of the deflection will come together to form a flat tongue H as shown in Figure 11. r

I thus provide a simple binding device which can'be economically manufactured and emciently appliedby means of simple dies or tools and which will permit the bound pages to be freely turned over into flat position.

I do not, however, desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shownand described as changes and modifications are possible which would still come within the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A binding device formed of thin sheet metal and comprising in its commercial form a back wall deflected to form an open channel, sem'iends of said arms being normally separated for reception of a stack of perforated sheets, bodily movement of said arms toward' each other cans-- put into service condition by bodily movement of said arms toward each other to bring their free ends through the perforations of the sheets and to close said channel.

4-. A binding device for perforated sheets formed of thin sheet metal and comprising a back wall and integral oppositely directed substantially semi-circular arms extending from the side edges of said back wall, said back wall being deflected inwardly of said arms to form a channel of substantially semi-circular cross section before the device is formed to its service condition and the ,free ends of said arms being normally separated for the reception therebetween of perforated sheets to be bound, said device assuming its service condition by movement of said arms bodily toward each other to bring their free ends through the sheet perforations, the channel in said back wall being closed to form a loop when said arms are brought together to their binding position.

5. A binding device "for perforated sheets formed 'of thin sheet metal, said device comprising a back wall and sets of oppositely directed substantially semi-circular arms extending from the side'edges of said back wall, said arms being normally diametrically opposite with their free ends separated for the reception therebetween of I the sheets to be bound. said back wall being deflected inwardly of said arms to normally form an open loop, movement of said arms bodily toward each other bringing their free ends together in the perforations of said sheets and causing closure, of said loop.

circular arms extending from the sidesof the back wall to be diametrically opposed to each other with their free ends separated for the reception therebetween of a pack of perforated leaves to be boundand with said channels within the space between said arms, said arms when moved diametrally toward each other closing the gap between their ends and closing said channel to form closed binding rings.

thereof into diametric opposition and with said channels within the space between said arms,

prising a longitudinal back strip having oppositely directed semi-circular arms integral therewith and extending from the opposite side edges thereof, said arms adapted to engage in the perforations of sheets to be bound, said back strip being deflected inwardly to form a longitudinally ex-' tending loop at the baseof and within the confines said channel being normally open and the free of said arms. '7. A' binding device for .perforated sheets formed from a single piece of thin sheet metal and comprising a longitudinally extending tubular body part and semi-circular arms extending therefrom for, receiving between their free ends the perforated sheets to be bound, said arms surrounding said tubular body part.

. CHARLES EDWARD EMMER. 

